WXV Round 4: Ferocious Jaguars take on Premiership Suns

[Purple 77]

Another glorious normal lock-out week  8)

Round 4, AFL Round 4

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Beijing Thunder	Cape Town Cobras	Beijing Olympic Park	2  v  2
Cairo Sands	New York Revolution	Borg El Arab Stadium, AAP Alliance	2  v  2
Mexico City Suns	Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Fireball Stadium, AAP Alliance, Americas	1  v  0
Moscow Spetsnaz	Toronto Wolves	Luzhniki Stadium	3  v  2
New Delhi Tigers	Dublin Destroyers	Tata Stadium, EurAsia	1  v  3
Pacific Islanders	Berlin Brewers	Tuanaimato International Stadium	1  v  3
PNL Reindeers	London Royals	Stade du Ray, EurAsia, Europe	3  v  1
Seoul Magpies	Buenos Aires Armadillos	Seoul World Cup Stadium	1  v  3
Tokyo Samurai	Christchurch Saints	Tokyo Olympic Stadium	0  v  1

The 'Jing have no reason to 'Jing this week after letting slip a golden opportunity to take a scrambling Reindeer scalp. After two exciting 140+ performances that saw the Thunder take down Dublin, the Thunder took a brief step back with that troublesome undermanned defence causing problems. Meanwhile, Cape Town continued their upward trend in terms of scoring which has counter-intuitively resulted in increasingly heavier defeats (albeit just the two). There seem to be a few passengers currently in the Cobra XV which, if rectified, could mean they could beat anyone on any given day and I feel this is the view they have whenever they take on an opponent ranked higher than them on the ladder. Speaking of which, this would be a unusual feeling for both coach and team at Beijing! Will they make like the Melbourne Demons and wallow in a pathetic sense of fake and meaningless accomplishment? Or will they respond to last week and get back the their 140+ ways? Seeing as no one is pathetic as Melbourne in that regard, I can only assume the later. Thunder for me.

The Sands have been good in the last two weeks! Albeit just the two consecutive posting of 130, that score means that they could beat most teams on their bad day, and as such you'd even dare to breathe in a sense of optimism at Cairo (along with a few grains of Sand). New York, well, they haven't really had a bad day yet, and when you consider that their captain has scored less than 50 in the last two weeks and they've still managed scores of 156 & 139, it doesn't look like bad days are on the horizon. I almost feel bad for being surprised at the rise of the Revolution... the pre-season comp even foretold it! I just feel the Revolution are a correct captain choice away from making RD/AK the co-coaches of the week. So I just gotta back 'em in.

No competition this week, this game is clearly my MATCH OF THE ROUND! A top of the table clash between the Reigning & Supreme Premiers vs the Jaguars-on-a-Mission... as the wise Bruce once said, "It just makes you excited, doesn't it?". The Suns sit 2nd and three-zip with scores reading 140, 139 and 156 and scalps of New Delhi, Buenos Aires and Cairo. Without meaning to offend, this is their first major challenge from a top 4 contender; but they know how to handle those. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro has unquestionably been the best team in the World so far this year, with scores reading 149, 166 and 169 with scalps of PNL, Tokyo & Pacific. Rio have both taken down last years finalists and scored much more, but if they want to REALLY make a statement, then there is no better place than Fireball Stadium against the reigning premiers. My tip? Perhaps surprisingly, I'm gonna back in the Suns' experience and HGA, as surely Rio haven't learnt all the lessons yet?

Moscow's start to the season has been perfectly fine really. They posted a good win against Pacific, won as expected against Seoul and with no shame went down to an in-form New York. What would be concerning however is that their scores have dropped every week and you can't help but wonder if the Spetsnaz are tiring without their suspended stars? A loss here against currently last placed Toronto would almost be a blow that the Spetsnaz might not be able to shake off. The Wolves were only 5 WXV points shy of Moscow last week; and seeing as they only had the one centurion, surely more are to step up? You gotta give Toronto a chance here, but they need contributions from all of their XV, a right captaincy choice and another player or two to lift up to another level. I'll tip Moscow, but I won't rule out the Wolves either.

New Delhi are coming off their first win of 2016 (their second win in since Round 13 of 2014!!!!) and would be quietly chuffed with their obvious improvement this year; despite just the one win to show for it. This week, they come up against a team that has basically lost as many times as New Delhi have won in the last 2 years in Dublin; whom themselves are coming off a mammoth 166. The Destroyers responded after their Round 2 loss to Beijing and would be welcoming the return to the 160 barrier; made possible by Joel Selwood hitting back and reigning Jim Stynes medallist Todd Goldstein trying his best against Max Gawn. But for New Delhi... could there be a better fairytale? To take on the gladiators themselves and come out victorious? Perhaps when Dublin strike, they will be met with Steel (Sidebottom)? It's a nice thought. But I'll tip the Destroyers.

An interesting match this one! The Islanders were the victims of untamed Jaguars last week... and that'd be an expensive counselling session to get over that. Pacific posted a decent score of 139 however, so they are by no means a push over; they hosted an elimination final last year! The Islanders have been steady with scores of 130, 145 and 139 and yet only have the one win to show for it. The Brewers are similar in that regard, with scores of 126, 144 and 145; a cumulative total of only just one more point than the Islanders! Berlin got a much needed win last week, and frankly the need and necessity to win hasn't subsided for a desperate looking Berlin outfit, or Pacific for that matter. This is what makes this match so interesting; one team will be 1-3 after the match and in all sorts. Who will win? Gosh darn I'm nervous. I don't like how this is a Pacific home game either; adding to my nerves. Unfortunately, I almost think Pacific are the favourites at home here, and I rarely tip against the favourites.

The Reindeers can breath a HUGE sigh of relief; grinding out a win against a respectable opponent in Beijing. PNL sit 9th on both the ladder and points ladder, with the absence of Swan, Hodge and last week Wingard being felt. On its 2015 reputation, this week should be regulation win. On current form? It's interesting. London have applied a vice grip in their last two games (and wins), restricting their opponents to scores of 112 and 117 whilst scoring 132 both times. It's low score... but it's one that is always capable of winning a match and London will go into this match both underdogs and with a sense of causing an upset win, should the Round 2 Reindeers (126) return to fore. It'll be a tough ask in France though, and it's with this reason I'll back the Reindeers, but lose this and... say goodbye to a qualifying final.

Seoul has plenty of it this week! The Magpies are coming off an upset win against the more fancied Christchurch; largely thanks to a herculean effort from Captain Dangerfield! Seoul also has posted back-to-back Rising Star nominations in Caleb Daniel & Clayton Oliver which just goes to show that they fit in with the rest of the glowing promise of their youthful team-mates. Buenos Aires have a different mood about them at the moment; sitting 17th and winless. But, when you look at who they've played so far... it's not exactly surprising (New York, Mexico City and a pissed off Dublin). This game presents its first opportunity to play against a team more on its level, and with star draftee Marcus Adams proving an instant hit, it is a great opportunity to open its 2016 ledger with its new co-coaches. Who will win? I've always liked Seoul... they have Clayton Oliver now.
 
Another intriguing game this one. After starting the season with a bang, the Samurai have fallen dramatically with scores of 152, 132 and 117. Still, they sit 1-2 with three respectable opponents behind them and there is plenty of time to regroup and hit form, as they'll likely need to this week against the Saints. Christchurch let last week slip against Seoul and would be pretty filthy about it (and maybe Captain Griffen for the second time this year). With a mounting injury list, Christchurch's famous depth is being tested and yet it still churns out a 139 "on a disappointing day". There is plenty of time left in the year and the Saints shouldn't be too worried yet. I'll tip them against the Samurai in this one, because they provide a more reliable output at the moment... who knows what the Samurai will do?

[Toga]

Nice write-ups Purps, love reading them as always!

Some interesting games this week. I'm rooting for the Jags against the Suns, love an underdog story! Pacific vs Berlin and Seoul vs Buenos Aires are two that pitch currently similar standard teams against one another as well.

Need to get my defence settled before I can go into any match confident at the moment :(

[Toga]

Beijing Thunder:
D: H.Taylor, H.Lumumba, T.Jonas, D.Howe
M: C.Ward (C), O.Wines (VC), B.Ellis, L.Neale
R: B.Grundy
F: D.Zorko, K.Lambert, A.Christensen, B.Kennedy
I/C: J.Caddy, J.Polec

Emg: J.Jenkins (f), L.Brown (d), J.Aish (d/m)

[Levi434]

Gonna be tough without Murphy, Vince and Ramsay this week, but I'm looking forward to a big game against Mexico!

surely Rio haven't learnt all the lessons yet?

Not sure what this is supposed to mean?

[Ricochet]

NDT beats Dublin this weekend

[Nige]

This week's game is exactly the type of game we shouldn't win but probably will somehow.  :P

[Purple 77]

Gonna be tough without Murphy, Vince and Ramsay this week, but I'm looking forward to a big game against Mexico!

surely Rio haven't learnt all the lessons yet?

Not sure what this is supposed to mean?

Like, Mexico City will teach you guys a lesson kinda thing... no?

Yeah, nah.

[Purple 77]

I/C: J.Caddy, M.Jones

That's what was missing from your seniors Toges, the changed man Matt Jones!

Dare I say he had a greater impact than his name sake last week...

[RaisyDaisy]

This week's game is exactly the type of game we shouldn't win but probably will somehow.  :P

If our Captains keep scoring 50 you might!  :-[

[Nige]

This week's game is exactly the type of game we shouldn't win but probably will somehow.  :P

If our Captains keep scoring 50 you might!  :-[

I'm warning you in advance that you should fear a rested Rhys Palmer.  ;)

[Holz]

NDT beats Dublin this weekend

Its not at crooke park so with that your a slight chance.

tempted to rest a star, but next week is Cairo

[Purple 77]

This week's game is exactly the type of game we shouldn't win but probably will somehow.  :P

If our Captains keep scoring 50 you might!  :-[

I'm warning you in advance that you should fear a rested Rhys Palmer.  ;)

[Holz]

This week's game is exactly the type of game we shouldn't win but probably will somehow.  :P

If our Captains keep scoring 50 you might!  :-[

I'm warning you in advance that you should fear a rested Rhys Palmer.  ;)

hey he was able to stop barlow in brownlow form.

[Ricochet]

NDT beats Dublin this weekend

Its not at crooke park so with that your a slight chance.

tempted to rest a star, but next week is Cairo

You won't rest, you're too scared of our superior list

[Holz]

NDT beats Dublin this weekend

Its not at crooke park so with that your a slight chance.

tempted to rest a star, but next week is Cairo

You won't rest, you're too scared of our superior list

I might just to prove a point